Mikko studied furniture design at Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences, and later received his Masters degree from the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. After working in design and architecture firms for several years, Mikko founded Studio Mikko Laakkonen in 2004. He has been awarded the number of international and national prizes, including: Reddot design award honourable mention (2016), Chicago Athenaeum’s Good Design Award (2015 & 2010), Muuuz International Awards 2014, Finnish Designer Awards ’14: Furniture Designer Of The Year, Reddot: best of the best design award (2013) Reddot design award (2012), and the Young Designer of the Year prize (2009).